Enterprise Nation

Danny Richmond entered the YouTrade competition and was crowned a winner with his idea to start an online business from home, selling beds. He’s planning to spend his prize money on a new laptop in what will be his second home based business.

YouTrade

We’ve written quite a bit about the YouTrade competition as we think it’s such a great way to help people start a new business from home.

Hundreds of people from across Northeast England sent in their ideas as to how they would turn their house into a home office and trade online. Danny Richmond was one of the lucky ones who won £2,000 to turn his idea into something real. He tells it as it is. 

What was the idea you pitched to the YouTrade judges?

We are creating a professional eBay store selling a variety of beds from leather beds, metal beds and wooden beds with the product range constantly evolving. The product range may also develop into new types of furniture in the future.

How did you come up with the idea?

I know a supplier who manufacturers and sells beds to retailers so it seemed a good opportunity to try and create an eBay store based on this. I can see from sellers’ feedback on eBay that there’s a market for this product. 

What's your current occupation?

I run my own internet business selling watches at www.ticwatches.co.uk so this new business will be my second online business.  

How do you plan to spend your prize money?

On a new laptop and a top class eBay store so we can create a professional brand. (I kind of wanted him to say 'down the pub'! ...Ed) 

Can we expect to see a live website in the next 6 months?

We do want to get a website up and running but I see this being at least 1 year down the line as I want to test the market first. Ebay will give us the chance to see how profitable the business can be before investing in a website. 

Good luck to you Danny – we’ll check out your watches and keep an eye open for your beds. - Emma Jones

• North East competition encourages home business